Germany leading technical innovation in the automotive industry

We were very lucky in our most recent BearingPoint Institute paper to hear the thoughts of Alexander Dobrindt, the German Federal Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, who reflected on the role of Germany in the #ConnectedCar world of fresh digital automotive technologies.

We were very lucky in our most recent BearingPoint Institute paper to hear the thoughts of Alexander Dobrindt, the German Federal Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, who reflected on the role of Germany in the #ConnectedCar world of fresh digital automotive technologies.

Dobrindt’s view that we are on the cusp of a revolutionary change in the automotive sector – indeed, the ‘biggest mobility revolution since the invention of the car’ – reveals a strong need for new and intricate solutions for problems that have not existed in the automotive sector until now.

What makes Dobrindt’s interview so useful to us is his explanation of how his department is working to ensure that Germany stays ahead of the myriad of technical and legal challenges presented by #ConnectedCar and self-driving vehicles.

The ministry’s comprehensive strategy has been rooted in the core principles of data protection and the supremacy of material damages over personal damages, setting a legal framework for others to follow.

While the onset of digital technologies in the automotive sector is set to bring many advantages to drivers of the future, new legal and practical guidelines and opinions are needed. Under the legislative uncertainty of new technologies, guidelines and controlled experimentation are invaluable.